Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca: Club World Cup Prediction (18.06.2025)

On June 18, 2025, at 23:00 WIB, the first Group G match of the Club World Cup will take place between Manchester City and Wydad at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Manchester City are the clear favorites according to bookmakers. The group also features Juventus and Al-Ain. Let’s take a look at the current form of both teams and give a prediction for the match.

Manchester City

According to bookmakers, Manchester City are among the top three favorites to win the Club World Cup. This is despite the fact that the team has delivered its worst season performance in at least the last five years. The Opta supercomputer even gives City the highest chance of advancing from the group stage among all tournament participants — over 97%. Analysts also believe that the team’s player quality will be a decisive factor.

Pep Guardiola has begun a squad overhaul. Two new signings, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, have been included in the tournament squad. After a disappointing season, the Club World Cup could be City’s opportunity to make a bold statement again on the global stage.

Wydad Casablanca

Wydad are considered the underdogs in this group. The Moroccan side have also been unimpressive domestically, finishing only third in their league. Even compared to the struggling Manchester City, the Casablanca-based team appears less stable. There are no standout stars on the roster, and the total market value of the squad is estimated at around €18 million. The club’s local stars are Mohamed Rayhi and Kassius Mailula, who were the top scorers last season.

Ahead of the Club World Cup, Wydad played two friendly matches against European sides — Sevilla and Porto — and lost both by the same scoreline: 0-1. However, they did show decent defensive organization, particularly at the back.

Stats and Head-to-Head Record

There is no previous head-to-head history. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

Prediction

In the Manchester City vs Wydad match, the prediction favors the Premier League side. The gap in quality is enormous. Guardiola will likely field a rotated lineup, but even then, City are several levels above their opponents. A tempting bet could be a goal scored before the 15th minute at odds of 2.60. For a safer choice, a bet on Manchester City -1 handicap in the first half at odds of 1.74 is recommended.